Three to Get Ready

September 14, 2009
Like its predecessors, the latest book starring these inseparable friends—a high-energy dachshund and multicolored teddy—contains three short, dynamic stories. In the first, titled “Uh-Oh,” Dog attempts to help Bear get a silver bucket off of his head, but his solution sets up another problem. In “Oops,” it's Dog's antics, bouncing on the bed, that stir up silliness, followed by a search for Dog's missing sock monkey in “Alphabetical Order.” The simple expressiveness of the friends' mutual concern and Seeger's inventive use of time and physical space (one page shows Bear making a soft landing pad for Dog using a sequence of six comic-style panels) adds to the duo's magnetism. Ages 3–7.

October 1, 2009
PreS-Gr 2-This pitch-perfect addition to the much-honored annals of impetuous Dog and careful Bear's friendship will find a ready and delighted audience. In "Uh-Oh," Dog's creative attempt to extricate a bucket stuck on Bear's head backfires when it pops off and descends smack on Dog's heada visual joke young listeners and lookers will love. "Oops" describes Dog's high-flying bed-jumping stunts, to which a worried Bear responds by surreptitiously creating a soft landing pad on the floor next to the bed. Sure enough, Dog is grateful. Bear organizes Dog's scattered belongings with boxes marked "A," "B," "C" in "Alphabetical Order," but still manages to misplace Dog's beloved sock monkey. Dog's thoughtful interpretation of Bear's creative alphabetizing underscores their loyal friendship. As with "Two Friends, Three Stories" (2007) and "Two's Company" (2008, both Roaring Brook), these tales are joyfully distilled in minimal dialogue and Seeger's trademark use of bright, bold swathes of primary color and strong black line in contrast with a white background. This palette ties in visually with its predecessors, yet presents a fresh take in its use of blue as the predominant cover and endpaper color. Whether listeners or emerging readers, children who are already friends with Dog and Bear will delight in these latest adventures, and those who are new to their escapades have a treat in store."Kathleen Finn, St. Francis Xavier School, Winooski, VT"

Copyright 2009 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 1, 2009
Preschool-K Like Dog and Bear (2007), this third picture book about the animal best friends, one a dachshund, one a stuffed toy, blends slapstick and sweetness in three stories about how the friends get into trouble and rescue each other. Bear has a bucket stuck on his head: How will Dog get it off? Dog likes to jump: How will Bear save his friend when he falls? Then Dog cant find his favorite toy. Young children will love the situations, told in very few words and spacious pictures, drawn with thick black lines and bright colors, that express the friends frustrations and bonding.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)